The AJMC® COPD compendium is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and expert insights for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
May 2nd 2024
Older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and anxiety exhibited exacerbated symptoms, increased comorbidities, and frequent acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD), emphasizing the need for routine psychiatric screening in COPD management.
Evolving Treatment Strategies in the Management of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Key Insights for the Pharmacist, featuring a Patient Perspective
1.5 Credits / Pulmonology/Respiratory
View More
Advances in EGFR Exon 20 Insertion-Positive Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Focus on Specialty Pharmacy Interventions
1.5 Credits / Oncology, Pulmonology/Respiratory
View More
Advances and Best Practices for Managed Care Pharmacists and the Treatment of Patients with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
1.0 Credit / Pulmonology/Respiratory
View More
Study Investigates Blood Eosinophil Count as Prognostic Biomarker for COPD
November 8th 2018Inhaled corticosteroids, used for preventing acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), often lead to increased high blood eosinophil count, while low blood eosinophil count is often associated with pneumonia risk—however, the prognostic role of blood eosinophil count has not yet been explored. In a recent study, researchers found that the severity of emphysema was independently linked with low blood eosinophil count and the longer survival period was associated with increased blood eosinophil count.
Read More
Study Assesses Symptomatic Nonobstructed Patients and Patients With Mild COPD
November 2nd 2018Researchers recently studied the adverse outcomes of symptomatic and asymptomatic nonobstructed individuals and those with mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) longitudinally, and found that the presence of respiratory symptoms in nonobstructed individuals was a predictor of mortality, lung function decline, and exacerbations.
Read More
COPD Morbidity, Mortality Varies Widely Across the United States
October 31st 2018A new report on the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) shows that there is wide variability across and within states, with West Virginia carrying the highest burden of morbidity and mortality.
Read More
Researchers Consider Existence of Pulmonary Vascular Phenotype Among COPD Patients
October 27th 2018Researchers reviewed the most updated concepts of the pulmonary vascular changes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and concluded that certain subgroups of COPD patients with pulmonary vascular phenotypes may profit from targeted pulmonary arterial hypertension therapy.
Read More
Combination of Medicine, Exercise Training, Behavior Modification Improves COPD Symptoms
October 20th 2018The first trial to examine the impact of a self-management behavior-modification program combined with bronchodilator therapy and exercise training on exercise capacity and physical activity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) showed positive results, according to a recently published study.
Read More
Low-Dose Theophylline Not Effective at Reducing COPD Exacerbations, Study Finds
October 16th 2018Oral theophylline has been used as a bronchodilator to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for decades, but it has fallen out of favor due to the side effects that come with the higher doses that are required to achieve any beneficial effect. A recent study sought to determine if adding low-dose theophylline to inhaled corticosteroids for COPD would reduce the number of exacerbations.
Read More
Anti–PD-1 Immunotherapy Helps With Coexisting Chronic Inflammation From COPD, NSCLC
October 10th 2018A recent study determined that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) had similar tumor microenvironment, but higher tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) exhaustion, than patients without COPD. The use of an anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) antibody, nivolumab, was also demonstrated to be effective in this population.
Read More
P. aeruginosa Associated With Higher Hospital Readmission Rate in COPD
October 9th 2018Some patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experience a sudden worsening of their symptoms that require additional treatment—also known as acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). A recent study, which investigated whether readmissions of patients with severe AECOPD varied according to the bacterium or virus identified, found that P. aeruginosa identification is associated with a higher readmission rate in patients.
Read More
Trial Evaluates Effect of Nebulized Glycopyrrolate With, Without LABA in COPD
October 5th 2018Previous phase 3 studies have demonstrated the efficacy of nebulized glycopyrrolate inhalation solution (GLY) for treating patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In a recent study, researchers conducted a secondary analysis and found that nebulized GLY demonstrated efficacy and was well tolerated for up to 48 weeks in subjects with COPD with or without background long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA).
Read More
Patient Adherence to COPD Medications Linked to Perceived Severity of Disease, Study Says
October 4th 2018Patient adherence to medication is a complex issue, particularly so for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A recent study finds that adherence is related to need perception and to the functional severity of the disease.
Read More
Review Assesses Impact of Seasonality in COPD
September 28th 2018Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often have a significant disease burden that is particularly associated with the peak incidence of exacerbation events during winter months. A review assessed previous population studies that evaluated the impact of seasonality in COPD, emphasizing the importance of understanding how all factors impact patients and where interventions can be targeted.
Read More
COPD Surgical Procedure Reduced Hospitalizations in Phase 2 Trial
September 18th 2018A phase 2 clinical trial of a surgical procedure called targeted lung denervation to open blocked airways in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) showed that it reduced problems associated with the disease.
Read More
Blood Eosinophils Threshold Could Predict ICS Treatment Response for COPD
September 12th 2018There is an increased need for potential biomarkers that can identify patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who will benefit from treatment involving inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). According to a recent study, the 2% threshold for blood eosinophils could accurately predict ICS treatment response in patients with COPD, but the risk of pneumonia was increased.
Read More
Implementing Effective COPD Telerehabilitation Must Involve Staff, Study Finds
September 6th 2018Telerehabilitation (TR), defined as telecare that involves supervised online exercise sessions for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is beneficial for symptom relief, physical function, and quality of life. A recent study found that specific attention toward the involvement of health professionals in the decision process combined with education and skill training is essential to support the successful implementation of TR.
Read More
Chronic Rhinitis Significantly Associated With Early Hospital Readmission Rates for Asthma and COPD
September 1st 2018Early hospital readmissions for patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represent a major economic burden within the healthcare system and recent research found that comorbid chronic rhinitis is significantly associated with 30-day asthma and COPD related readmissions
Read More
Patients With COPD Prioritize Symptom Control Information Online, Survey Finds
August 27th 2018Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) still rely on their healthcare providers as the source of primary information about their disease but about a third will bring information from the internet to appointments to discuss, and prioritize information about symptom control, a recent online survey reported.
Read More
Anthem to Give Propeller Health Digital Tool to Ohio MA Patients With COPD
August 22nd 2018Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with a history of at least 1 emergency department visit or hospitalization are eligible for a new digital health initiative announced by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield for its Ohio Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, where it will cover digital sensors from Propeller Health.
Read More
Vapor From e-Cigarettes Renders Protective Lung Cells Defenseless, Study Finds
August 14th 2018A study that sought to replicate the effects of vaping on lung cells found that vapor from e-cigarettes boosts the production of inflammatory chemicals and disables key protective cells in the lung that engulf potentially harmful particles. Some of the effects were similar to those seen in regular smokers and people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Read More
Individual Characteristics, Not Pollution, Factor Into Which Women Develop ACOS
August 10th 2018Lifestyle factors and individual characteristics, rather than air pollution, explain which women with asthma go on to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), resulting in asthma and COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS), according to a new study published in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
Read More
Age, Illness Severity Linked to Poor COPD Outcomes After ICU Admission
August 8th 2018Researchers investigating the factors associated with hospital mortality in patients requiring intensive care unit admission for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease found that patient age, requirement for invasive mechanical ventilation, and illness severity were associated with poor patient outcomes.
Read More